Under a Yellow-Sail Roof, Sangam’s 66,704-Seat Football Stage

The 216,712㎡ Stadium in Sangam Left by the 2002 FIFA Korea–Japan World Cup

Seoul World Cup Stadium is a football-specific stadium built to host the 2002 FIFA Korea–Japan World Cup, and its official history records that the venue has been in operation since 2001. Its address is 240 World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, with a site area of 216,712㎡, a building area of 58,724.62㎡, and a total floor area of 166,678.13㎡.

The stadium is an elliptical building with one underground floor and six above-ground floors, reaching a maximum height of 49.4 m. Its major and minor axes are 304 m and 279 m, respectively, and it has a total seating capacity of 66,704. This figure includes VIP seats, press seats, and skyboxes, making the seating capacity itself a foundation for hosting South Korea's national team matches and FC Seoul home games.

A 49.4 m Roof Combining Mapo Naru's Yellow-Sailed Boats and Shield Kites

The stadium's exterior is more than just a large roof. The Seoul Facilities Corporation explains that the design incorporates the traditional soban and octagonal dining tables, along with the image of a shield kite symbolizing hopes for peace. The distinctive roof structure was modeled after the yellow-sailed boats that once traveled to and from Mapo Naru.

Roofs cover approximately 90% of the seats, so the proportion of seating protected from rain and strong sunlight is relatively high. However, the entire stadium is not enclosed, so for summer evening matches it is practical to check both the rain forecast and the wind and to bring a light outer layer or rainwear when attending for a long period.

A Direct Entrance Route from Exit 2 of World Cup Stadium Station on Line 6

By public transportation, Exit 2 of World Cup Stadium Station on Seoul Subway Line 6 is the shortest access point according to the official information. For buses, it is convenient to get off at the stadium's western stop, 14-105; routes 710, 7019, and 7715 pass this stop.

Other available services include village bus Mapo 08, branch routes 7019 and 7715, trunk routes 760, 710, and 571, and express route 9711. On the day of a major match or performance, visitors tend to arrive at the same time, so after checking the seat location, proceed directly from the station toward the entrance gate and avoid traveling just before the match begins.

• Street address: 240 World Cup-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• Main telephone: 02-2128-2002
• Official website: https://www.sisul.or.kr/open_content/worldcup/

09:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00: What the 1,000-won Stadium Tour Actually Covers

Visitors can take a stadium tour to see the interior. Tours operate four times a day at 09:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00. Overall operating hours are 09:00–17:00, and the tour takes approximately one hour. It is open to members of the general public, foreign tourists, and groups of 10 or more.

Admission is 1,000 won for adults, while groups of 10 or more receive a 30% discount. The fee is 500 won for those aged 18 or under, those aged 65 or over, people with disabilities, national merit recipients, and persons recognized for lifesaving contributions; families eligible for the Multiple Children Happiness Card and pregnant visitors themselves enter free of charge. Advance registration through Seoul's public service reservation system is required, on-site booking is unavailable, and payment is made on site by card or cash.

The tour proceeds in the following order: waiting area, main stadium, FC Seoul players' and manager's room and warm-up room, players' and manager's room and warm-up room related to the 2002 World Cup, commemorative video screening area, history hall, and souvenir shop. According to the official information, access to the pitch is restricted, so this tour is not suitable for visitors expecting an experience on the grass.

Why You Need to Distinguish the 528-Space Western Parking Lot from the 767-Space Homeplus Parking Lot

Visitors arriving by car should choose the parking lot according to their destination. The stadium's directly operated western parking lot has 528 spaces, while the Homeplus-only parking lot on the east side has 767 spaces. Visitors to the stadium, sauna, or cinema must use the directly operated western parking lot, while Homeplus customers must use the eastern Homeplus parking lot to receive the applicable discounts for those facilities.

The fee for small vehicles in the directly operated parking lot is 150 won per five minutes. Homeplus customers cannot receive a discount when using the stadium parking lot on the west side, so anyone expecting a parking discount after shopping should enter the eastern parking lot from the outset. On match and performance days, congestion and delays exiting the parking lot are likely, making the subway a more predictable option.

The auxiliary stadium covers 9,910㎡ and has a 105 m × 68 m pitch and 1,012 seats. Public access to the grass is generally available from around March through mid-November, depending on the scope of lawn maintenance. There are three futsal courts beside the auxiliary stadium on the north side; they operate year-round from 06:00 to 22:00 and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis through Seoul's public service reservation system.

Accessibility for Visitors, Reflected in 186 Accessible Seats and 8 Elevators

Accessibility facilities include 186 seats for visitors with disabilities and eight elevators. The official circulation route involves taking an elevator from the ramp section on the first floor around the stadium exterior, then entering via the third-floor deck.

Tactile paving, tactile maps, and emergency call buttons in the restrooms are also provided along the routes around the stadium and through the northern plaza. Visitors using strollers or wheelchairs should check the seat, entrance gate, and elevator routes for match days before booking tickets. Facility-related inquiries can be made at 02-2128-2993.

The main stadium pitch uses a hybrid system combining natural grass and PE artificial turf in a 95:5 ratio. Because the grass requires a recovery period after football matches, stadium tours and stadium rentals and match schedules are not fixed year-round; check the official schedule for dates.

90 Minutes Before the Match: From the 8,125㎡ Northern Plaza to World Cup Park

There is an 8,125㎡ northern plaza on the north side of the stadium. Before a match, first take in the stadium exterior and northern plaza from Station Exit 2. If you have enough time, continue toward the adjacent World Cup Park area; this makes it easy to understand how Sangam's parks and sports facilities meet one another.

If you plan only the stadium interior, allow about one hour for the stadium tour. Including the exterior, northern plaza, and World Cup Mall, allow at least one and a half hours. Combining the tour with a walk through World Cup Park afterward takes approximately two to three hours. The main stadium prioritizes use by the national team and FC Seoul, so it should not be regarded as a place where visitors can freely enter and view the interior even on days without a match.

World Cup Mall houses separately operated facilities, including Homeplus and a nine-screen Megabox cinema. The stadium's main number is 02-2128-2002, but business hours and discount conditions for shopping, movies, and the sauna are separate from stadium operations, so check the information provided by each operator independently.